Beef cattle

Genetic evaluation of growth traits for selecting proven Sahiwal crossbred bulls through progeny testing in Bangladesh

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Abstract

The objectives of this study were to identify superior proven bulls through genetic evaluation of growth traits and utilize the genetics of ranked bulls through frozen semen by artificial insemination. As part of this initiative, a pilot project was conducted by the Lal Teer Livestock Development (BD) Limited country's first research-based private breeding company to estimate the breeding values for growth traits of five Sahiwal crossbred bulls (≥20 progenies per bull). Five Sahiwal cross candidate bulls (16SL0022-FIGO, 17SL0029-SILVA, 17SL0029-STEVE, 18SL0040-SHARP, and 20SL0052-SERGIO) were considered for this progeny testing program based on their total 266 progenies from 12 districts of Bangladesh mainly found at low input farming system. The data of live body weights at birth, weaning weight at 6 months, yearling weight at 12 months and mature weight at 18 months were collected using measuring tape regularly by designated personnel from the selected areas' as regular basis from 2021. The data of growth were analyzed to estimate sire transmitted breeding values following Sire Model with fixed effects sex, dam parity and season, and random effect sires along with sire-based growth performances. In addition, all the bulls were ranked by the Selection Index (SI). All the data analysis and plot construction were performed by R Core Team, 2025; adding lme4 and ggplot2 packages, respectively. The results revealed that mean body weight increased with age, from 21.60 ± 1.32 kg at birth to 208.74 ± 20.09 kg at eighteen months. Bull SERGIO consistently displayed positive and favorable transmitted breeding values across all later stages, culminating in the highest breeding values for eighteenth-month weight (+11.79 kg) including 11.26% more growth at sixth month compared to average performances. Conversely, Bull SHARP exhibited strongly negative values for the same trait (-17.11 kg) except at birth (+1.58 kg), indicating a substantial negative genetic impact on growth. A similar dichotomy was observed between Bull STEVE and SILVA which had respectively positive (+8.43 kg) and negative (-10.06 kg) breeding values for later growth stages. Bull FIGO demonstrated an intermediate profile with a negative breeding value at birth (-1.08 kg) but a positive trend in later periods. The reliability of these sire transmitted breeding values was generally high (above 80% for most traits), reinforcing the confidence in these rankings. Overall, the results confirm three ranked bulls having known genetic potential for growth and could be used as proven in breeding purpose for effective genetic gain and selection for next generations.

Keywords: 2026

How to Cite:

Shahjahan, M., Huque, Q., Awal, T. & Mintoo, A., (2026) “Genetic evaluation of growth traits for selecting proven Sahiwal crossbred bulls through progeny testing in Bangladesh”, World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production Digital Archive 2026(1): 2283137. doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/wcgalp.23486

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